When members of Portland's business association and community gathered at the Glen Museum on Thursday evening, May 30, it was not only to mark the inaugural Portland Yesteryear Festival - it also celebrated the end of The Glen Museum's first year of operation.
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In one year, the Williwa Street museum has attracted 1000 visitors, thanks in large part to the work of its 30 dedicated volunteers, the Portland Cultural and Heritage Association's Stephen Graham said.
AWJ Civil, the owner of the Portland cement works granted the museum a ten year lease including an unused shed at the back of The Glen and it opened its doors in 2018.
There are big plans in place for its second year of operation, including training to help staff catalogue items donated.
"We hope to get some younger people involved in the museum as well," Mr Graham said.
Physical changes were in the planning pipeline for the museum, the old maternity hospital site, including providing improved access for people with a disability.
If you are interested in volunteering at the museum email theglenmuseum@gmail.com.
The Yesteryear festival's first year has been hailed a success by organisers.
Portland Post Office's Yashik Valabjee said visitors to the business enjoyed seeing the original maps of Portland, which had been drawn up in 1906, on public display.
"Quite a few streets have been erased while others have been realised since that time, which people found very interesting," he said.
They also enjoyed the opportunity to browse the original Sands Directory, in which people were able to tie family names back to their original lot numbers, going back to the times of people's great grandparents.
Kirsty Horton
A journalist with 15 years of experience, Kirsty Horton has been the editor of the Lithgow Mercury newspaper and a journalist for mastheads including the Great Lakes Advocate, Nambucca Guardian News and Moree Champion. She is now a member of ACM's features and special publications team.
A journalist with 15 years of experience, Kirsty Horton has been the editor of the Lithgow Mercury newspaper and a journalist for mastheads including the Great Lakes Advocate, Nambucca Guardian News and Moree Champion. She is now a member of ACM's features and special publications team.
